CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Browns handed Brian Hoyer the starting quarterback job on Wednesday, but one former NFL quarterback said the decision wasn't tough.

"(Manziel is) not even remotely close to being ready," Esiason said on his WFAN morning show. "If he opened as the starting quarterback at Pittsburgh in Week 1, he would get his ass kicked."

Esiason, who also appears on CBS's NFL Today pregame show, said NFL teams already "hate" Manziel. He used the Browns' first two preseason opponents — the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins — as examples. He suggests the Steelers linebackers are basically chomping at the bit for a chance to sack Manziel on the first Sunday in September.

"Whether or not you can handle it is going to be determined by your maturity level. And right now, this kid is a baby."

Even a Manziel supporter can't disagree with Boomer there. Maybe you weren't offended by Manziel flipping off the Redskins bench on Monday night. It's just a gesture, after all. But Manziel lacking the awareness of how such a gesture would be perceived is unfathomable.

He's only 21, but he has to know better.

"If I were Mike Pettine, I would have to have my head examined to put that kid on the field," Esiason said.

Pettine wisely didn't take the bait when he was asked about Esiason's quotes during a press conference.

"I don't have a reaction to that. That's Boomer's opinion. He has the right to that."